Wheeled toy rocking figure propelled



3 Sheets-Sheet l G. TAYLOR WHEELED TOY ROCKING FIGURE PROPELLED.

Filed Dec. 22, 1930 June 9, 1931.

ATTd R NEY June 9, 1931. GTAYLQRI 1,809,739

WHEELED TOY ROCKING FIGURE PROPELLE'D Filed Dec. 22, 1930 s sheets-sheet 2 ATTOR NEY a June 9, 1931. G. TAYLOR 1,809,739

WHEELED TOY ROCKING FIGURE PROPELLED 7 Filed Dec. 22, 1930 I 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 Patented June 9, 1931 l" "UNITED STATES OFFICE nonen TAYLOR, or oo sHoHoc EN, PENNSYLVANIA wnEE En TOY ROCKING FIGURE PROPELLED Application filed December 22, 1930. Serial No. 504,160;

Another purpose is to provide, in a toy of this ,kind,.a wheeled base,steering wheels in the front and driving wheels in the rear, in conjunction with means actuated by a rocking figure on the base for intermittently operating the-driving Wheels, said means for intermitten-tly operating the driving wheels including meansto be actuated, a bridle device to enable the toy to move forwardly orrearwardly when being driven intermittently. U to Another purpose'is to provide improved means for retaining the rocking figure properly centered on the base,in order to retain the figure in alignment during itsrocking movements, and thereby. insuring proper transmission of suchmovements to the driving means to'the, rear wheels.

Another purpose istoprovide an improved v steering mechanism for the front wheels, said steering mechanism comprising a steering 39 stem orcolumn consisting of one section which has a ball joint mounting in the neck of the rocking figuretoallow thesame to operate as is the figure rocks, and a second section of rectangular shape in cross section to fit in the scope, the second rectangular section being swiveled to the axle of the front wheels whereby they may be turned to the right or left. 7 a

Itis tovbe understoodthat the particulars herein given are in no waylimitative, and that while still keeping'within the scopeof the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the appliance according'to circumstances. I i

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings andclaimed.

Inthedrawings:'-

' showin first section, allowing the two sections to tele- Figure 1v is a View inside elevation and partly in section ofthe improved toyfconstructed in accordance with the invention,

'gjthe driving wheels in gear for driving the toy forward. 7 2 1 r Figure 2 is, a longitudinal sectional view with the rear drive wheels in gear, for operating the toy rearwardly.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on 00 line of Figure ,1 throughthe driving mechanism for the rear; wheels, more clearly showing the construction; a T a Figure 5 is an enlarged detailview partly in section of the clutch means for cooperating with the gear '38. 1 V 1 Referring to the, drawings; V 1 identifies abase, which is mounted von front-and rearvwheels 2 and 3. The front wheels'include an axle 4, which-is swiveledat 7u 5by means of a king pin and turn table 6.

. This turn table includes the upper andglower plates 7 and 8 with anti-frictional bearings 9 mounted therebetween in race ways 10, so as to permit the front wheels to turn to'the rightjor left freely., The king pin has 'a universalfljoint connection. 11 with a steering stem or column 12, which comprises'two sections '13 and'lt. 7 The section 13 is hollow as shown, the hollow-l5 being rectangular in cross section for'the reception of the sec? tion-lt, which is similarly shaped in cross section. In this manner the two sections can rotate together, yet the section 14. canslide in the section 13. Thesection 18 base ball jointor swivel at 16 in the neck 17 of a rocking figure 18, which,.in the presentinstance, simulates a horse,the legs of which are mounted on rockers 19. The section 13 of the stem has handle bars 20 at its upper end, to permit the stem or'column to be rotated, for the purpose of turningthe front 7 wheels to the right or left.

Rising'from the base is a center piece 21 provided with a vslot 22, which is .\/-shaped. This center pieceyis, located between two guides :23, which, are disposed in spaced positions between the rockers 19, and sup.- ported on the cross bars 24"., A pin 25 passes a through the guides, 23 and engages the slot 22, and when the rocking figure moves forwardly the pin 25 moves into the leg 26 of the slot 22, and when the rocking figure moves rearwardly, it moves into the leg 27 of the V-shaped slot. By this construction and arrangement of the pins and the slot, the rockin figure is retained in alignment with the ase, and at all times centrally thereon, so that the notches 28 of the rockers 19 will always engage similar shaped ribs 29 on the base 1. In this manner the rocking figure is prevented from creeping forwardly or laterally.

The rear supporting wheels 2 are mounted upon an axle 30, which has a gear 31, the axle being mounted in bearings 32. The bearings 32 are supported movably on guides 38, there being coil springs 34 between the base 1 and the bearings, thereby retaining the base supported from the bearings. The reason for this will appear later. I

Mounted in bearings 35 which rise from the base 1 on opposite sides of a slot 36 is a shaft 37, with which a gear 38 rotates.

Due to the springs between the base 1 and the bearings 32, the gear 38 is held out of mesh with the gear 31, as long as the rocking figure is unoccupied by a persons body. Hbwever, when a child, boy or girl, straddles the rocking figure, applying weight thereon and on the base 1, the rear end of the base lowers until the two gears 38 and 31 mesh, and then by an intermittent motion imparted to the gear 38, power is transmittedto the axle 30 and the rear supporting wheels 2.

In order to impart this intermittent motion to the gear 38, a lever 39 is swiveled on the shaft 37, the two forks 40 of the lever straddling the gear 38. The lever 39 has opposite dogs or pawls 41 and 42, which are spring tensioned at 43, one at a time being adapted to engage the teeth of the gear 38, for the purpose of imparting motion in one direction to the gear. A sleeve 43a rockably mounted on the lever 39, is provided with diametrically opposite cams 44 and 45, so disposed, that when the sleeve is moved in one direction,

' one of the cams will actuate one of the dogs todisengage its nose from the teeth of the gear38, while the other dog will engage the teeth, so that the gear be rotated in one direction, a. reverse movement of the sleeve will reverse the positions of the dogs, so that the gear may rotate in the opposite direction. In order to actuate the sleeve, suitable arms 46 extend laterally from the sleeve and are connected to rods 47, which operate in uides 48 carried by the rocking figure, the orward ends of the rods 47 beingconnected to the two ends of a bridle cord or strap 49, which pass through the rings 50 adjacent the mouth of the rocking figure. By means of a pull an one side or the other of said bridle strap,;the rods 47 may be movedlongitudinally for the purpose of rocking the sleeve in one direction or the other, the purpose being to rock the sleeve on the lever.

A link 51 is pivotally connected to the lever 39, and in turn operatively connected at 52 to the rocking figure, so that when the figure is rocked, it will impart an oscillating movement to the lever for the purpose of rotating the gear 38.

A brake bar 53 is rockably mounted in bearings on the under face of the base 1, and is provided with a projecting arm 54, to which a link 55 is connected. The opposite ends of the brake bar 53 have projecting arms providedwith brake shoes 56 for engagement with the wheels 3 for retarding the speed of the toy. The link 55 is spring tensioned at 58, and in turn connected to an arm 59 of a rocking shaft 60; The rocking shaft 60 is mounted in bearings on the under part of the base, and has a pedal 61, which is limited by a guide 62. By operating the pedal and thereby rockingthe shaft 60, movement can be imparted to the link against the tension of the spring thereby applying the brake shoes to the wheels 2. p p

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is p 1. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure pro pelled, a base having front steering wheels and a steering mechanism therefor, a pair of rear supportin wheels including an axle, bearings for the axle, resilient means between the bearings and the base, a shaft in bea-ringsonthebase andprovided with a ear, a gear on the axle, so that when weig t is applied to the base the two gears will intermesh.

2. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure pro pelled, a base having front steering wheels and a steering mechanism therefor, a pair of rear supporting wheels including an axle,

bearings for the axle, resilient means between the bearings and the base, a shaft in hearings on the base and provided with a gear, a gear on the axle, so that when weight is applied to the base the two gears will intermesh, a rocking figure on the base, a lever supported on the shaft and having a ratchet mechanism for engaging the first gear, and means connecting the lever an'drocking figure for imparting movement to the lever.

3. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, a base having front steering wheels and steering mechanism therefor, a pair of rear supporting wheels including an axle, bearings forthe axle, resilient means between the bearings and the base, ashaft in hearings on the base and provided with a gear, a gear on the axle, so that when weight is applied to the base the two gears will intermesh, a rocking figure on the base, and means operatively associated with the shaft and cooperating with the first gear, with a connector operatively joining the last mentioned means and the rocking figure for imparting movement to the first gear.

4. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, a base having front steering wheels including an axle, bearingsfor the axle, resilient means between the bearings and the base, a shaft in hearings on the base and provided with a gear, a gear on the axle, so that when weight is applied to the base the two gears will intermesh, a rocking figure operatively mounted on the base, a lever operatively pivoted on the shaft, a link connecting the lever and rocking figure, said lever having a pair of ratchets to cooperate with the teethof the first gear, means for so positioningone or the other of said ratchets to cooperate with the teeth of the first gear, for moving the first gear in one direction or the other, and thereby propelling the toy intermittently forwardly or rearwardly.

5. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, a base having front steering wheels and a steering mechanism therefor, a pair of rear supporting wheels including an axle, bearings for the axle, resilient means between the bearings and the base, a shaft in bearings on the base and provided with a gear, a gear on the axle, so that when weight is applied to the base the two gears will intermesh, and manual means remote from and operatively connected to the last mentioned means and carried by the rocking figure for adjusting the said last mentioned means.

6. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, a base having front steering wheels and steering mechanism therefor, a pair of rear supporting wheels including an axle, bearings for the axle, resilient means between the bearings and the base, a shaft in bearings on the base and provided with a gear, a gear on the axle, so that when weight is applied to the base the two gears will intermesh, a rocking figure on the base, and means operatively associated with the shaft and cooperating with the first gear, with a connector operatively joining the last mentioned means and the rocking figure for imparting movement to the first gear, and means on the base and operatively associated with the rocking figure for retaining the figure rockably centered on the base.

7 In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, the combination with 'a base having front steering wheels, a steering mechanism for the front wheels, rear driving wheels, a rockable figure on the base, means operatively connecting the driving means and rocking figure for imparting movement to the driving wheels, and means for retaining the rocking figure centrally aligned on the base, said centrally aligned means comprising a center piece having a V-shaped slot, a pair of guides for the center piece, the guides being carried by the rocking figure the center piece being carried by the base, a transverse pin carried by the guides and located in the slot to operate into either leg of the slot.

8. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, the combination with a base having frontsteering wheels, a steering mechanism for the front wheels, rear driving wheels, a rockable figure on the base, means operatively connecting the driving means and rocking figure for imparting movement to the driving wheels, and means-forretaining the rocking figure centrally aligned on the base, said centrally aligned means comprising a center piece having a V-shaped slot, a pair of guides for the center piece, the guides'being carried by the rocking figure, the center piece being carried by the base,a transverse pin carried bythe guides and located in the slot to operate into either leg of the slot, said rocking figure having rockers provided with central notches, and ribs carried by the base to enter the notches to insure holding the figure centered. I

9. In a wheeled toy, rocking figure propelled, a base having front steering wheels and rear supporting drive wheels, a rocking figure mounted on the base and having operative connections with the driving wheels, a steering stem comprising two sections slidably and telescopically connected rotatable as a single unit, one section having a ball mounting in a portion of the rocking figure, said front steering wheels having a king pin passing through the base and having a universal joint with the other section of the stem, whereby by rocking of the stem in one direction or the other the front wheels may be turned to the right or left.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature.

GEORGE TAYLOR. 

